Kings Island names new Walk of Fame inductees

Former Kings Island employees Gary Wachs and Rich Walburg will be inducted as the newest members into the Kings Island Walk of Fame.

The 2009 Walk of Fame class will be inducted Saturday, September 5 during a 9:45am ceremony on International Street.

Wachs developed the concept and design for Kings Island in the mid 1960’s while serving as the assistant general manager of Cincinnati’s popular Coney Island. He was named the first general manager of Kings Island and is accredited for bringing back roller coasters and other thrill rides into the amusement and theme park industry when the park opened to the public in 1972. Wachs currently is general manager and co-owner of the Garfield Suites Hotel in Cincinnati.

Walburg was employed as a seasonal associate at Kings Island from 1983 through 1991, working in various departments including admissions, communications, ecology and food service. He has spent the past 16 years at 700 WLW radio in Cincinnati where he currently serves as assistant program director and executive producer.

The class of 2009 was selected by the Kings Island Walk of Fame Selection Committee, raising the number of inductees to five. Carmen Electra, Dennis Speigel and Janeen Coyle were inducted in the inaugural Walk of Fame class last year.